Von Sydow bombshell

blueman

And only a rumor (but I'd thought I'd tag "Spoiler," just in case):


http://www.thefilmexperience.net/misc/maxvonsydow_pt1.html

Amalric will be Blofeld. Or, Von Sydow is saying he'll be the main villain, interpret it as you like.

darenhat

Interesting.

blueman

I can totally see Haggis wanting to do this, bringing back Blofeld.

a rogue AI

Amen.

Hardyboy

Interesting indeed. Wait and see.

Loeffelholz

blueman wrote:

Amalric will be Blofeld. Or, Von Sydow is saying he'll be the main villain, interpret it as you like.

I have a feeling it's the latter---almost as if Von Sydow is using 'Blofeld' as a generic term for 'Main Villain,' perhaps---but I'd dearly love to be wrong about that!

I'd absolutely love to see them reinterpret Blofeld for the Modern Era.

Tee Hee

Considering Amalric (nor Craig) has not denied any of the rumors surrounding him up until this point, I believe that we have our next villain.

Whether or not the next villain will be Blofeld is not so clear. After all, Eva Green has hinted in the past that it would be Vesper's French-Algerian boyfriend. Amalric is young as well as French, so he certainly would fit the profile. However, things could very well have changed since Green was interviewed.

I could see the filmmakers wanting to revamp Blofeld. Having rebooted the series with Casino Royale, I suppose anything is possible and nothing is off limits.

I'd personally prefer that they not bring Ernst back. He is the exclusive, definitive villain of the Connery Era, and I think that should remain so. That said, if Blofeld does return in 2008, he better have a white Persian cat!

Who knows, perhaps Amalric's character will be cast in the same mold as Blofeld, but given a different name.

Here's an interesting question: If Blofeld (or a Blofeld type) does become the villain in Bond 22, what does that mean for the character of Vesper's French-Algerian boyfriend? Will he be a henchmen? An ally? Will he appear at all? Maybe the two characters will be one in the same. Vesper was dating Blofeld right before Bond? Talk about a bizarre twist. It certainly would be cause for some personal friction between the two characters. It just might be crazy enough to work!

Guess we'll find out...

Dan Same

I think I would prefer a more generic main villain. I'm not crazy about bringing back Blofeld if only because he was such an iconic feature of the Connery/Lazenby films. That said, if he does come back, I wouldn't want him to be rebooted to such an extent that he becomes unrecognizable. He doesn't have to have a white Persian cat (although I wouldn't object ) but he needs to have some Blofeldian characteristics.

Tee Hee

Dan Same wrote:

I think I would prefer a more generic main villain. I'm not crazy about bringing back Blofeld if only because he was such an iconic feature of the Connery/Lazenby films. That said, if he does come back, I wouldn't want him to be rebooted to such an extent that he becomes unrecognizable. He doesn't have to have a white Persian cat (although I wouldn't object ) but he needs to have some Blofeldian characteristics.

Yea, I know right. It's not enough that I can't even recognize Bond right now.

Loeffelholz

CTrent49 wrote:

Why is it so important to bring back Blofeld? Keep him in the 60s and early 70s, where he belongs.

Quite right. Keep Bond back in the Fifties, where he belongs, as well. Don't continue to make films about him five decades on, for crying out loud...



I don't know whether 'important' is the right word...but I think it might be cool to reimagine Blofeld for the new era---perhaps to the point of giving him a new name

Grishenko

I imagine he simply meant Amalric will be the main villain.

If one assumes Von Sydow has not closely followed the Bond franchise during the past couple decades, it seems reasonable for him to interpret "main Bond villain" as being one and the same as Blofeld. This conclusion is even more likely considering he played Blofeld. He knew his character as Bond's main nemesis and might be overly quick to draw that connection now.

Still, I think this is solid confirmation of Amalric's role in the upcoming film. I don't know Amalric's work, but he sort of looks like a Fleming villain. His eyes and mouth could fit one of Fleming's descriptions of Bond's various enemies.

Subjectively, I would love to see Blofeld brought back. This time, I would like him to be portrayed more loyally to the novels. I think Blofeld was more potent in the novels. Also, ridiculous as it sounds, a modern Blofeld may have to be remodeled just to get separation from Dr. Evil. Dr. Evil has become remarkably significant in popular culture.

Also, what is the legal status regarding Blofeld as far as Danjaq is concerned? Has anything been resolved there? Could Broccoli and Wilson bring back Blofeld if they wanted?

emtiem

Grishenko wrote:

I imagine he simply meant Amalric will be the main villain.

If one assumes Von Sydow has not closely followed the Bond franchise during the past couple decades, it seems reasonable for him to interpret "main Bond villain" as being one and the same as Blofeld. This conclusion is even more likely considering he played Blofeld. He knew his character as Bond's main nemesis and might be overly quick to draw that connection now.

Yeah, I definitely think you're right there; seems much more likely.

As for bringing back Blofeld; no thanks. I think we've rather done the whole 'big villain running empire of evil' thing; there are plenty of other types of threats a spy can face and it can quite happily still feel like a Bond film.

Napoleon Plural

He's quite old to be taking on such a role isn't he? And so, too old to be Blofeld. Which is an odd character to have for just a trilogy, if that's what Craig is doing. Yeah, Blofeld was in three novels, sure, but the whole point was it was at the end of Bond's stint. Blofeld without nuclear weapons, without his cat, or Tracy involvement or the like may as well not be Blofeld at all...

emtiem

Napoleon Plural wrote:

He's quite old to be taking on such a role isn't he? And so, too old to be Blofeld.

He's only in his forties, isn't he?

emtiem

And now Empire seem '100%' certain that Amalric is the new Bond villain:

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=21607

Napoleon Plural

Oops sorry, totally misread that. Thought Sydow would be Blofeld...

Guess if this guy is Vesper's bf (not blofeld! ) ) then fine. But as a villain? Another no mark looking bloke. Would struggle to make a menacing supply teacher.

emtiem

Just once it'd make a nice change to read something positive on this forum regarding new bits of news. Batman- awful. A new Bond- awful, bad choice (and I'm not even talking Craig here; just the dark haired, handsome guy who got cast the other day as 007). Spooks- bad. New Bond villain - bad. Surely there's someone here who likes something?

Oh well. I don't know the guy, but he looks like he can do 'creepy' to me.

Hardyboy

Em, I don't think anyone's been down on Almaric--the discussion here has pretty much been about Blofeld, and elsewhere people have taken a "wait and see" attitude about Almaric. If indeed he is the main villain, great--I'm not familiar with the man or his work, but the same was pretty much true of Mad Mikkelsen for me, and I thought he made a great villain. I trust EON and their new "non-stunt" casting, so I'll give him a chance.

emtiem

I take it you missed the 'wouldn't make a menacing supply teacher' comment directly above my post, then!

Ack; don't mind me- had a headache and bad day at work.

Loeffelholz

Poor Eon can simply do no right

...at least, not until they change lead actors again :v Ah, well. C'est la guerre. At least the playing field is clearly defined...

For my money, Amalric looks the part. I haven't seen him do much, but I did see him in Munich, and I'm confident he'll be sufficiently menacing! He's got a bit of 'award buzz' going for that 'Butterfly' film, so it seems a good move for everyone.

Cameras roll in a month!

youknowmyname

Amalric would make a great Algerian boyfriend, and I totally think he can pull off menacing. I thought he was nice and creepy in Munich, plus in his other films he has proven to be very versatile with his acting and his characters. They are really taking some steps forward here with some good casting if Amalric is indeed the villian. I can't wait to hear whether or not that's for sure and see the film with Amalric as a villian, a wonderfully talented actor with a lot of promise for a Bond film.

HowardB

Well if the latest reports are accurate, Almaric has been cast as Tracey's Algerian boyfriend in 22, who is also the villain. I have a feeling that if rumours are correct that this is a trilogy, we will be getting Blofeld or a "Blofeld-like" villan in Bond 23 who has been pulling the puppet strings all along.

Crown 7

blueman wrote:

Amalric will be Blofeld. Or, Von Sydow is saying he'll be the main villain, interpret it as you like.

I hope it will be. Von Sydow was the only Blofeld I appreciate.-{

Crown 7

HowardB wrote:

Well if the latest reports are accurate, Almaric has been cast as Tracey's Algerian boyfriend in 22,

Vesper's boyfriend ?;)

youknowmyname

HowardB wrote:

Well if the latest reports are accurate, Almaric has been cast as Tracey's Algerian boyfriend in 22, who is also the villain. I have a feeling that if rumours are correct that this is a trilogy, we will be getting Blofeld or a "Blofeld-like" villan in Bond 23 who has been pulling the puppet strings all along.

I dost believe you have betrayed your feelings as to the validity of Vesper's qualities. :v You put her on par with Tracy eh? A lot of people on this site will soon be on top of you for that!

Or it's quite possible that with all this Blofeld, villian talk you made an honest mistake and called Vesper, Tracy...or you think Tracy is making a come back along with Blofeld...or...or...or I am making too big a deal out of this just because I am bored. )

blueman

That's the kinda connections that are getting made in my head as well. Blofeld in this new post-CR Bond world does make a lot of emotional sense, and with the terrorism angle seems like it wouldn't be too much of a shoe-horn to make it work logistiaclly, like they did with the reboot.

Loeffelholz

blueman wrote:

That's the kinda connections that are getting made in my head as well. Blofeld in this new post-CR Bond world does make a lot of emotional sense, and with the terrorism angle seems like it wouldn't be too much of a shoe-horn to make it work logistiaclly, like they did with the reboot.

I agree. Blofeld (whether he'd actually have that name or not!) could serve as a quite effective metaphor for that which poses the most dire threat to the modern world, and cloak it in the comparatively safe trappings of escapist film entertainment.

I'm not advocating a faithful resurrection of the bald villain with the white cat and the grey nehru jacket---IMO, Mike Myers has effectively driven a stake into the heart of that particular cinematic icon with his 'Dr. Evil,' as indicated above. Perhaps casting someone who looks a bit like a young Roman Polanski is a step in this direction...

A Blofeld, circa 2008, would almost certainly have to be different in many ways, whilst retaining the most undiluted elements of the character: cold calculation, ruthlessness and audacity---seasoned, perhaps, with greed and a lust for power. It seems to me as if Eon has already made a move in this general direction, given the extremely shadowy treatment of this nebulous 'organization' in CR. I think it's safe to assume that an interesting person is in charge---but it may or may not be the 'villain' Amalric has been hired to portray.

If Craig's 'arc' is intended to run three (or maybe four) films in total, I'd be slightly surprised if we see the 'organization's' leader in #22. If we do, I wouldn't expect him to get significant screen time until the final chapter of the saga.

...Yes, I really have no idea whatsoever ;%

Dan Same

Loeffelholz wrote:

If Craig's 'arc' is intended to run three (or maybe four) films in total, I'd be slightly surprised if we see the 'organization's' leader in #22. If we do, I wouldn't expect him to get significant screen time until the final chapter of the saga.

What I would really love (and I know it's a bit of a cliche) is to hear the main villain's voice in Bond 22, but not actually see him, like with Blofeld in FRWL and TB. I think it's a great way of building up the main villain, particularly if he is some kind of mastermind.

blueman

Yeah, that would be pretty cool, dan. Could happen...

emtiem

Loeffelholz wrote:

Perhaps casting someone who looks a bit like a young Roman Polanski is a step in this direction...

Oh he does, doesn't he? I knew he reminded me of someone.

blueman

Thinking more about this rumor, really no reason to doubt it: Sydow had been talking with Amalric, so I guess he got it from someone who'd know. The press release on Amalric's casting will likely clear this up, but until it's refuted I'm going with what the man said: Amalric will be Blofeld in Bond 22. :007) Yippee!